The federal government of Pakistan has moved to suspend the powers of the provincial government in north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is governed by former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, by declaring a state of emergency in the province.
President Asif Ali Zardari approved the decision on Sunday (11), following recommendations made at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The Pakistani Government says the provincial government has deliberately withdrawn from the fight against terrorism. However, the PTI has strongly criticised the decision.
Under Pakistan’s Constitution, a state of emergency allows the federal government to assume some or all of the powers of a provincial government. The President’s Office initially provided no clear details on how the province would be administered under the new arrangement.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reports that PTI lawmaker Junaid Akbar has said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and the party’s provincial leader have been arrested.
Protests demanding Imran Khan’s release
The decision comes as supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned for more than three years, are organising a protest march towards the capital, Islamabad, demanding his release.
The Government has announced that it will not allow the protesters to enter the capital and has tightened security by setting up barricades on major roads.
Political tensions have escalated further following the march, which began on 4 October.
PTI spokesperson Zulfiqar Bukhari has criticised the declaration of the state of emergency, warning that it could lead to further bloodshed and instability.
He alleged that although there was still room for negotiations, the Government’s latest decision showed that it had never had any genuine intention of engaging in talks.
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